Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-01-27
COUNTY

This shows an average of S1,O14; or consider
ably more than four times the average of the
five lowest! This is called equality OF taxation,
equality before the law educational equality.
In the estimate given above Si25 was considered
the minimum expense OF a tolerably good six
months school. 1t was shown that many dis
trictS could not raise this amount under the
present limitation; while some districts. under
20-mil tax could raise three or four times this
amount. Can single valid objection be raised
to spreading the aggregate running expenses of
all the schools OF a county upon the county
rolls?
The State has three objects in view in
public education. 1t wishes to make each
man intelligent votar; it wishes
to make each independent OF the necessity for
public aid-that is, to lift him above possible
pauperdom; it wishes TO make him strong
enough to bear his share of all public burdens
These are such essentials in a free republic that
we have accepted truism, 1.-The State must
educate, or perish.
Education, then. is public necessity.
public duty, public burden. las far as expense
goes-) and public blessing. Its methods,
therefore, should be largely public and as
little communal as possible. In this State, as
in most Western States the county is really the
political unit. The desirability and justice of
distributing to the county at large what had
been 50 long carried by townships (under the
rather limited New England system)-such as
bridges, the of the poor, etc.-has long
been recognized. The school. which
should have been first to receive this
more Just as well rs more generous
treatment has thus far been left to be handled
in happy -go-lucLy way by the petty little com
nunalities which we insist retaining for no
reason other than for the sake of self-govern-
ment." As though sengovernment did not ex-
list in the county; as though self-government
were desirable for its sake rather than for
its results!
Let us suppose county system, for taxation
at least, and note the results. The task OF MAX
ting the necessary computations for many coun-
ties. is ar1uous and unnecessary. One county.
thoroughly representative one, VIII be SUI
hcient- In this county ind, outside OF its
city, valuation OF s., 100000. It has eighty
five school distrlctS-far too many. If any reza-
sonable amount OF discretion had been used In
distr1cting the county. But We will take it as
it is The problem then is: s. times S425 equals
S36 ssS; SS6,225 equals lis mills on s. 100000
Think of it! good six-monthS' school in
every district in the county for less than a
twelve-rnIl tax. II any district wishes TO do
more, let &c do so; but here is absolute guar
anty Of good work throughout the county.
1t seems impossible 10 study the figures in the
foregoing tables, and the differences drawn from
the answers OF superintendent, without con-
Guiding that our school system is wretchedly In
efficient, and that our Legislature should NJ
once be asked to enact law which will secure
for US juster taxation, more efreient super
vision. more intelligent officers. simpler ma
chinery. uniform course 81 study. uniform text